Systems and methods for remote viewing of patient images

ABSTRACT

A digital camera containing patient images is connected to an uploader computer and the patient&#39;s name or history is entered into the uploader computer. The uploader computer then connects to the Internet, connects to the secure host server, uploads the images to the host server and shuts down the Internet connection. After the physician selects a medical facility and the system verifies the physician&#39;s user I.D. and password, the host server constructs an HTML web page which includes a list of patients whose images were previously uploaded by the medical facility and are available for viewing. The physician simply selects the name of a patient and the host server displays the patient information and images on the physician&#39;s computer. The system is password-protected at all levels and the operator for each medical facility determines who may have access to the medical facility images.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/219,956, filed Dec. 23, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,029 andentitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REMOTE VIEWING OF PATIENT IMAGES”.

This application contains a Microfiche Appendix, pursuant to 37 CFR 1.96(MPEP 608.05), of a computer program listing printout of over ten pages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates, generally, to systems and methods forremote viewing and, more particularly, to a password-protected systemwhich acquires and transmits patient images to a server for remoteaccess via the Internet.

2. Background Information

A medical facility typically requires physician input to determine themost appropriate medical care for the patient. However, requiring aphysician to be present 24 hours a day at the medical facility toexamine the patient, or a radiological image of the patient, may beinefficient and expensive. Particularly, a medical facility may not havethe financial resources or patient volume to support a physician on siteat all times; the medical facility may be located in a remote location;or a town may not have a sufficient number of physicians available to belocated at each medical facility at all times of the day. As such, whena patient requires medical attention, an experienced physician may notbe readily available at a particular medical facility.

Accordingly, a system is needed which acquires an image of a patient andtransmits the image to a remote location for viewing and analysis by anexperienced physician. While prior art teleradiology systems exist whichestablish a direct communication link to a remote location and transmitradiological images to the remote location, these systems often requirededicated hardware and software at the medical facility and at theremote viewing location wherein the hardware and software is complicatedand expensive. Due to increasing budget constraints, medical facilitiesand physicians typically cannot allocate the substantial funds requiredto purchase the dedicated teleradiology systems. Moreover, existingteleradiology systems do not provide secure, password-protectedtransmission of data from numerous medical facilities to a centralizedrepository for remote viewing by physicians from their existing personalcomputers.

With the rapid expansion of the Internet and other computer-basedtechnologies, a personal computer already exists at a physician's homeor office. Physicians are also becoming increasingly knowledgeable ofcomputer technology, the use of a personal computer, and the use ofinformation on the Internet. While the Internet allows the transmissionof electronic mail with image attachments, the use of electronic mail istypically not secure and requires the entry of various Internetaddresses in order to send an image to multiple locations. Moreover,many individual medical facilities have their own computer systems whichcan be accessed, via a user identification and password, by physiciansassociated with the medical facility. However, physicians are typicallyassociated with a few medical facilities, thereby often requiring aphysician to obtain, and keep track of, different user identificationsand passwords to access each medical facility computer. Thus, a systemis needed which allows physicians to use a single user identificationand password for viewing patient images from a home or office, in asecure manner, over the Internet.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To upload images, a person at the medical facility simply takes picturesof the patient or the patient's radiological scan with a digital camerawhich instantly digitizes the patient images. The digital camera is thenconnected to the uploader computer and the patient's name or history isentered into the uploader computer. The uploader program in the uploadercomputer automatically obtains the images from the digital camera andgenerates a data file, which includes the digitized images and any otherpatient information. The uploader computer then connects to theInternet, connects to the secure host server, uploads the images to thehost server and shuts down the Internet connection. All of theoperations are automatic, so the person at the medical facility does notneed to wait by the computer while images are being uploaded. The systemis password-protected at all levels and the administrator for eachmedical facility determines who may have access to the medical facilityimages.

When the physician uses an Internet compatible computer, the physiciansimply logs on to the host website which displays a list of medicalfacilities. Upon selection of a particular medical facility, the websiterequests entry of the physician's user I.D. and password. Afterverifying the physician's user I.D. and password, the host serverconstructs an HTML web page then displays the web page which includes alist of patients whose images were previously uploaded by the medicalfacility and are available for viewing. The physician simply selects thename of a patient and the host server displays the patient informationand images on the physician's computer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The subject invention will herein be described in conjunction with theappended drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements,and:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary schematic diagram of a simplified image retrievaland viewing system;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary schematic diagram of the camera system in greaterdetail;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary schematic diagram of the uploader system in moredetail;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary schematic diagram of the physician computer inmore detail;

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary screen display of the uploader system;

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary screen display of patient data on thephysician computer while connected to the host website;

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary screen display of the home page on thephysician computer while connected to the host website;

FIG. 8 shows an exemplary flow diagram of the process for acquiring,uploading and viewing patient images;

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary flow diagram of the process for uploadingimages from the uploader system to the host server; and,

FIG. 10 shows an exemplary flow diagram of the process for physicianaccess to the patient images on the host server.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present system and method generally allows the remote viewing overthe Internet of patient images which are uploaded from a medicalfacility. The present invention may used in association with hospitals,clinics, emergency rooms, film rooms, x-ray facilities, medical offices,sports facilities and/or the like. Other users of the present inventionneed not be in the medical field. For example, any business ororganization which requires a secure, password-protected depository onthe Internet for the exclusive viewing of documents, images, text and/orthe like by only authorized users is also contemplated within the scopeof the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, system 5 preferably includes a camera system 10, anuploader system 50, an Internet 100, a host server 110 and a physiciancomputer 150. In a preferred embodiment, referring to FIGS. 1 and 8,system 5 includes a unique process for acquiring, uploading and viewingpatient images. To upload images, camera system 10 suitably acquires anddigitizes the image (step 250) then uploader system 50 automaticallyobtains the image from camera system 10 (step 252). Uploader system 50generates a data file including the patient image and patientinformation (step 254) then uploader system 50 connects to Internet 100and uploads the images and associated information to host server 110(step 256).

The physician, using physician computer 150, suitably accesses Internet100 and logs on to the host website 200 (FIG. 7) located on host server110 (step 258). After suitable verification, host server 110 generates aweb page (step 260), including the data file image and patientinformation, which is transmitted to physician computer 50 for thephysician to view the images of particular patients. One skilled in theart will appreciate that communication between uploader system 50, hostserver 110 and physician computer 150 can also be achieved using a localarea network or other similar communication systems in accordance withthe present invention. Because the present invention preferablyincorporates existing communication channels over the Internet andcommonly available camera systems 100, uploader systems 50 and physiciancomputers 150, the system is less expensive than other teleradiologysystems, requires no specialized training and is upgradable as therespective technologies improve.

Camera system 10 is any device or combination of devices suitablyconfigured to acquire an image, digitize an image and transmit thedigital image to uploader system 50. One of ordinary skill in the artwill appreciate that camera system 10 can acquire any image inaccordance with the present invention including, for example, x-rays, MRimages, CT images or any other radiological image or a direct picture ofpatient pathology, wounds, lacerations, cellulitus, rashes, labs, EKGs,documents or any other information or subject capable of beingphotographed by a camera. Referring to FIG. 2, in a preferredembodiment, camera system 10 includes a digital camera 12, an imagedigitizer 14, an image storage buffer 16 and other known hardware andsoftware components and electronics for suitable operation of a digitalcamera. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that camera 12,image digitizer 14 and image storage 16 can be separate components orincorporated into a single digital camera device. Moreover, imagedigitizer 14 is any suitable device for digitizing an image such as, forexample, a camera which acquires the image in digital form, ananalog-to-digital convertor and/or the like. Alternatively, uploadersystem 50 can include the digitizing component. In a preferredembodiment of the present invention, camera system 10 comprises a Sony®DSC-F1 digital camera manufactured by the Sony® Corporation.

After one or a plurality of images are obtained using camera system 10,camera system 10 is suitably connected to uploader system 50 to allowthe transmission of the JPEG file images, stored in image storage 16, touploader system 50. It is understood that camera system 10 digitizes theimage before transmitting the image to uploader system 50; however, thepresent system also contemplates that uploader system 50 may digitizethe image instead of camera system 10. Furthermore, camera system 10 maybe permanently connected to uploader system 50, or preferably, camerasystem 10 is configured to be removably connected to uploader system 50by a removable cable, thereby allowing camera system 10 to be freelymanipulated to obtain close-up views of the patient image at almost anyangle. Alternatively, camera system 50 may transmit the digitalinformation to uploader system 50 via a signal, such as an infraredbeam, without the need for a cable connection. Moreover, if camera 12 isconnected to uploader system 50 during image retrieval, image storage 16may not be necessary if the images are sent directly to uploader system50.

Uploader system 50 is any device or combination of devices suitablyconfigured to accept data from camera system 10 and generate a data filewhich includes the information from camera system 10. Uploader system 50is also any system which automatically connects to Internet 100, logsonto a host server 110 website, suitably uploads images to the websiteand shuts down the Internet connection. Uploader system 50 is preferablyan Apple® iMAC® computer. Referring to FIG. 3, in a preferredembodiment, uploader system 50 includes processor 52, display 54, FTPprogram 58, TCP/IP 62, PPP 64, serial port 66, and modem 68. Processor52 is any suitable central processing unit which executes a personalcomputer's software and displays the acquired images on display monitor54. Processor 52 is also any suitable device capable of executing webbrowser software to access the Internet 100. In an alternativeembodiment, system 5 includes numerous uploader systems 50 in which theindividual processors 52 are networked to other processors through anEthernet connection. Alternatively, TCP/IP 62 may be connected to alocal network medium such as an Ethernet connection. In anotherembodiment, modem 68 is replaced with a direct connection to Internet100. Moreover, one skilled in the art will appreciate that TCP/IP 62,PPP 64, serial port 66 and/or modem 68 can be multiple components, partof one system, internal to a computer, external devices or not requiredif a direct connection to the Internet is used.

With reference to FIG. 5, the medical facility operator preferablyinterfaces with a screen display 170 of uploader system 50 which is agraphical user interface preferably including a first name field 171, alast name field 172, a history field 174, a Send Images to InternetCommand 176, a Fax More Permanent Passwords Command 178, a Fax MoreOne-time Passwords Command 180, an image field 182, a log field 184, aClear Log Command 186 and a Settings Command 188. One skilled in the artwill appreciate that screen display 170 can include other fields andcommands to preform functions, display data or optimize other computervariables in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 9, after connecting camera system 10 touploader system 50, the medical facility operator enters a patient nameinto patent name fields 171, 172 and/or history associated with aparticular patient into history field 174 (step 300). Processor 52 ofuploader system 50 then creates a location on its hard drive with atemporary file name for the particular patient (step 302). After theoperator selects the Send Images to Internet Command 176 (step 304),processor 52 automatically transmits a request for a download of allimages from camera system 10 wherein the request includes the locationof the temporary file on the hard drive in uploader system 50. Inresponse to the request, camera system 10 suitably transmits thepreviously acquired images in JPEG format to uploader system 50 (step306). In a preferred embodiment, camera system 10 includes knownsoftware which is configured to respond to the download request.Uploader system 50 preferably includes a macro which re-creates thedownloading routine such that the downloading process is automatic afterselection of the Send Images to Internet Command 176 by the operator. Ina preferred embodiment, the macro QUICKEYS™ produced by CE Softwaresuitably provides the automatic re-creation of the downloading process.

After receiving the images, uploader system 50 suitably counts thenumber of images transmitted from camera system 10 (step 308). In apreferred embodiment, if the image data includes over 50K bytes of640×480 pixel images, then processor 52 compresses the images usingknown compression routines before transmitting the images to host server110 (step 310). If the image data includes under 50K bytes of 640×480pixel images, then processor 52 preferably does not compress the images.One skilled in the art will appreciate that the threshold forimplementing the compression routine or the image pixel dimensions canbe changed to any desired quantity. Moreover, before transmitting theimages to host server 110, processor 52 suitably creates “thumbnail”128×96 pixel images of each image and displays the thumbnail images inimage field 182 as the thumbnail images are processed (step 312).Uploader system 50 also suitably populates the previously createdtemporary data file with the aforementioned information, namely thenumber of images, patient name, current date and time, full images andthumbnail images. Uploader system 50 also renames the previously createddata file with an exclamation point (!), patient name, time stamp andchecksum (step 314). For example, the name of the data file could be “!Smith Robert 11:15PM E5”.

Uploader system 50 then connects to the Internet 100 through modem 68 orthrough a direct connection between processor 52 and Internet 100 (step316). With reference to FIG. 3, modem 68 preferably connects uploadersystem 50 to Internet 100. In this regard, modem 68 is any hardware orsoftware which is configured to translate between the digitalinformation sent from processor 52 of uploader system 50 to the analogdomain of a telephone system. In a preferred embodiment, modem 68converts serial digital data from serial port 66 into analog signalssuitable for transmission over telephone lines. Modem 68 is any commonlyavailable modem having established standards used by a number of modemmanufacturers such as, for example, a commercially available modemmanufactured by Rockwell. Point-to-point Protocol (PPP) 64 softwareestablishes communication with modem 68. PPP is a standard which enablesmultiple network protocols to be used over a modem line or other serialconnection. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other commonlyknown standards for enabling multiple network protocols to be used overa modem line can alternatively be used. PPP software 64 is suitablyconfigured and initialized by known methods for communication withprocessor 52 and modem 68.

TCP/IP 62 is a widely used network protocol which controls the routingof data and the transfer of data, thereby providing a common means ofinterconnection through packet transfer devices known as gateways. Afterprocessor 52 sends data to TCP/IP 62, TCP/IP 62 encapsulates the datainto segments called TCP packets with header information. The headerinformation tracks, checks and orders the data segments in the propersequence, thereby helping to assure packet delivery, integrity andsorting order. TCP/IP 62 records the acceptance of error-free segmentsby host server 110. If a segment is not timely acknowledged, TCP/IP 62re-transmits the packet. The TCP packets are transmitted to an Internetprotocol which arranges the segments into Internet protocol packetswhich contain an IP header wherein the IP header includes addressinformation which enable the gateways to route the IP packet to itsproper destination. The IP header contains the source and destinationInternet addresses, thereby enabling gateways to properly route thedata. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that anyinitialization and configuration procedures can be used to incorporateTCP/IP 62 into uploader system 50.

Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 9, after connecting to Internet 100,processor 52 launches an FTP program 58 called FETCH produced by TheTrustees of Dartmouth College. Processor 52 then provides FETCH withinformation needed to identify and route the data file, namely the useridentification, password, FTP location and data file name (step 318).After appropriate verification procedures between uploader system 50 andhost server 110, FETCH uploads the selected data file containing thepatient information, full images and thumbnail images by transmittingthe data file to host server 110 (step 320). If the transmission issuccessful (as determined by known in the art procedures discussedabove), the file is renamed by deleting the exclamation point (!) fromthe beginning of the file name (step 322). By deleting the ! after asuccessful transmission, any incomplete or problem files can be easilyidentified and deleted (as discussed below). After completing thetransmission of information over Internet 100, uploader system 50automatically terminates the connection to internet 100 (step 324). Forconfidentiality and security purposes, in a preferred embodiment, allimages are uploaded by uploader system 50 to host server 110 areautomatically erased after twenty-four hours. One of ordinary skill inthe art will appreciate that the automatic deletion feature can beconfigured for different time periods for different medical facilities,depending on the medical facility preference.

With reference to FIG. 5, during the downloading process from camerasystem 10 to uploader system 50 and during the uploading process fromuploader system 50 to host server 110, log field 184 suitably recordsand displays most actions in real time, thereby allowing the operator toensure accurate system performance. To clear Log Field 184, the operatorcan select the Clear Log Command 186 which suitably deletes the displayentries from Log Field 184. Moreover, Settings Command 188 on screendisplay 170 allows the operator to adjust various known in the artcomputer display and interface connections. For example, the operatorcan change the interface connection setting from a direct connection toa PPP connection. In a preferred embodiment, to reduce user manipulationof system 5, the operator does not have access to the Settings Command188; but instead, the operator is required to call the operator of hostserver 110 to request access to Settings Command 188. Upon approval,host server 110 suitably allows the medical facility operator to adjustparticular settings of system 5.

System 5 includes password protection on multiple levels. Referringagain to FIG. 1, when the operator of the medical facility uploadsimages to host server 110 using uploader system 50, uploader system 50preferably transmits an appropriate password to host server 110 forverification by host server 110 before host server uploads imagestransmitted by uploader system 50. Moreover, system 5 is suitablyconfigured to allow the operator to limit the access to the web pagecreated by uploader system 50 to particular physicians or other users.An operator may add a new physician which is entitled to access the webpage by providing the physician with a temporary or permanent-temporarypassword. A permanent-temporary password allows users to becomepermanent users for that particular medical facility. One time temporarypasswords may only be used for accessing the web page once for aparticular medical facility.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, Fax More Permanent Passwords command178 provides a convenient procedure for supplying additionaltemporary-permanent physician passwords for distribution by the medicalfacility operator. More specifically, the medical facility operatorinitially determines particular physicians which the medical facilityapproves having repeated access to the particular medical facilities'patient information. After selecting Fax More Permanent PasswordsCommand 178, for security reasons, uploader system 50 requests entry ofthe operator's password. After the operator enters a pre-assignedpassword and host server 110 verifies the operator's password, hostserver 110 transmits a request to a processor to generate a list ofphysician temporary-permanent passwords for a particular medicalfacility and to fax the list to the medical facility which requested thephysician passwords. In a preferred embodiment, thirty-two new physicianpasswords are generated and distributed in response to each request. Themedical facility operator then communicates the passwords to authorizedphysicians. One skilled in the art will appreciate that system 5 maysuitably limit the request, retrieval and allocation of physicianpasswords to administrators of the medical facility by requiring specialadministrator passwords.

The physician passwords only provide access to the certain patient dataat a particular medical facility. Moreover, the physician passwords andIDs are initially temporary. An exemplary temporary physician passwordis “4123” and temporary user ID is “TEMP1234.” One skilled in the artwill appreciate that the user passwords and IDs may be any combinationof numbers, letters, symbols and/or the like. After the physician entersa temporary user ID and temporary-permanent password into physiciancomputer 150, the temporary user ID and temporary-permanent password issuitably transmitted to host server 110. Host server 110 verifies thetemporary-permanent password against an existing list of authorizedpasswords and requests entry of the physician's social security number,name and address. Host server 110 then re-assigns the physician's socialsecurity number as the new permanent physician user ID and requests thephysician to enter a new permanent password, if desired. In a preferredembodiment, the physician can select a new permanent password having 4-8characters. After receiving the physician's new password selection, hostserver 110 records the new password in association with the physicianuser ID and the new password is now the physician's permanent password.However, a physician who is registered as a user of one site cannot viewimages of another site unless the physician is also a registered user ofthe second site. Because physicians are often registered with more thanone medical facility, the physician can receive a different temporarypassword from another medical facility, and upon following the sameprocedure as set forth above, the physician can change all temporarypasswords from different medical facilities to the same permanentpassword for all medical facilities. In this regard, the passwordallocation and replacement routine of the present invention reducesphysician confusion and simplifies physician interaction with thesystem.

Alternatively, the operator can select Fax More One-Time Passwordscommand 180 which will generate and fax a list of temporary passwords tothe medical facility. This list of passwords is communicated tophysicians; however, the physician can only use these temporarypasswords to access the records of a particular medical facility withinsystem 5 one time. More specifically, the medical facility determinesparticular physicians which should have access for a 24-hour period tothe particular medical facilities' patient information. After selectingFax More Permanent Passwords command 178, uploader system 50 requests,similar to above, entry of the operator's password. After the operatorenters a pre-assigned password and host server 110 verifies theoperator's password, host server 110 transmits a request to a processorto generate a list of temporary physician passwords for a particularmedical facility and to fax the list to the medical facility whichrequested the physician passwords. In a preferred embodiment, thirty-twonew temporary physician passwords are generated and distributed inresponse to each request. The medical facility operator thencommunicates the temporary passwords to authorized physicians. Uponentry of a temporary user ID, such as, for example, “1TEMP1234,” andtemporary password into physician computer 150, the special user ID andtemporary password is transmitted to host server 110. Host server 110verifies the temporary password (but does not change the user ID orpassword as above), then the system allows the physician to view certainpatient data in the particular medical facilities' patient informationdata file. After the physician exits the particular medical facilities'patient information, the temporary password is deleted from theauthorized password list in host server 110.

After receiving a user ID and password as set forth above, the physiciancan access the patient information in host server 110. Referring to FIG.1, host server 110 is any hardware or software suitably configured toaccept data files from uploader system 50 and to allow the physician'sweb browser 156 to access information from host server 110. Host server110 is preferably an Apple Macintosh® server. In response to a requestby the physician's web browser 156, host server 110 transmits HypertextMarkup Language (HTML) pages through Internet 100 to physician computer150. HTML pages describe the information which is on web page 200 sentby the host server 110. When a physician accesses web page 200 (FIG. 7),the HTML page instructs the physician's web browser 156 to display onthe computer display 154 various information such as, for example,buttons, text, images, animated real-time loops of images, sounds and/orthe like. The HTML page is directly encoded into software located inhost server 110 by known in the art commercially available desktoppublishing and word processing software for writing the HTML page andother known software is used to encode the page into HTML form. In thatregard, web pages 200 contain HTML tags of data which assist thephysician's web browser 156 in interpreting HTML page. The HTML page mayalso include HREF Hypertext references which provide a means for linkingto other web pages within host server 110 or anywhere on the Internet100. After the HTML pages are created, their storage addresses arerecorded at host server 110. Thus, when a physician makes a request toview a particular HTML page, host server 110 is responsible for findingthe page based on the storage address and sending its contents to thephysician's web browser 156.

More particularly, referring to FIGS. 1, 6, 7 and 10, after thephysician enters the Internet address for web page 200 (FIG. 7) locatedon host server 110 (step 350), physician web browser 156 sends a datapacket to host server 110 which is received by the WEBSTAR™ programlocated in host server 110. The WEBSTAR™ program is commonly availableand is distributed by Star Nine, Inc™. WEBSTAR™ suitably transmits webpage 200 information to physician computer 150 and WEBSTAR™ logs theInternet Protocol address of physician computer 150 (step 352). Web page200 preferably displays a list of medical facilities 205 (FIG. 7) whichhave previously uploaded patient data to host server 110 (step 354).After the physician selects a medical facility from the list of medicalfacilities 205, a data packet containing the medical facility request istransmitted to host server 110 (step 356). Host server 110 thentransmits a request for the physician's user ID and password tophysician computer 150. After the physician enters the appropriate userID and password information into physician computer 150, a data packetcontaining the user ID and password is transmitted to host server 110which validates the user ID and password (step 358).

Host server 110 then transmits the physician's medical facility requestto a program called PATIENT.ACGI (located on host server 110). WEBSTAR™also suitably interrogates the passwords and preforms various passwordfunctions which are known in the art, including the transmission ofcertain passwords to PATIENT.ACGI. PATIENT.ACGI suitably accesses theselected medical facility folder which contains the individual patientfolders 60 (step 360). Each medical facility predetermines an expirationtime limit for their own patient folders 60 and the expiration timelimit is stored in host server 110. PATIENT.ACGI suitably interrogateseach patient folder 60 and compares the patient folder time stamp (whichindicates the time and date the folder was uploaded to host server 110)with the selected medical facility expiration time limit. If the patientfolder time stamp is later in time then the medical facility expirationtime limit, the patient folder 60 is deleted. Moreover, PATIENT.ACGIsuitably interrogates each patient folder name and deletes any folder 60with a name which contains an exclamation point (!) because, asdiscussed above, the ! in the patient folder 60 name indicates that thefolder may contain corrupted or incomplete data (step 362). Afterdeleting the unwanted patient folders 60, PATIENT.ACGI accesses apre-established HTML web page having empty patient folder 60 fields.PATIENT.ACGI then populates the patient folder 60 fields with thepatient folder 60 information associated with the selected medicalfacility (step 364). PATIENT.ACGI then transmits the populated HTML webpage to WEBSTAR™ (step 366), which then transmits the populated HTML webpage to physician computer 150 (step 368).

Physician computer 150 is any system or software suitably configured toaccess the Internet 100 and browse web page 200 in host server 110.Referring to FIG. 4, physician computer 150 preferably includesprocessor 152, display 154, web browser 156, TCP/IP 158, PPP 160, serialport 162 and modem 164. A physician suitably requests processor 152 toinstruct web browser 156 to access the website located at host server110. When accessing host server 110 through Internet 100, web browser156 utilizes TCP/IP 158, PPP 160, serial port 162, and modem 164 in asimilar manner as discussed above. Web browser 156 is any commonly knownweb browser software such as, for example, Netscape®, Microsoft®Internet Explorer®, or the America OnLine® web browser. One skilled inthe art will appreciate that there is known in the art browser functionswhich are incorporated into host server 110 and web browser 156 therebyallowing the physician to manipulate the images and browse various webpages at the website.

After receiving the populated HTML web page, physician computer 150displays the HTML web page for the selected medical facility on display154. The physician then views all of the patient folder 60 names whichare available and selects a particular patient name from which thephysician can view the selected patient's images (step 370). A datapacket containing the patient selection is suitably transmitted to hostserver 110. After receiving the patient selection data packet, hostserver 110 suitably transmits the patient selection information to aprogram called GETPATIENT.ACGI. In a preferred embodiment,GETPATIENT.ACGI also transmits all physician entries to a log databasewhich logs all physicians which view a particular patient folder 60(step 372). GETPATIENT.ACGI interrogates the patient folder 60corresponding to the selected patient and searches for an INDEX.HTMLfile which indicates that the patient folder 60 has previously beenviewed. If the INDEX.HTML file exists, GETPATIENT.ACGI transmits theselected patient folder 60 to WEBSTAR™ (step 376) which then transmitspatient folder 60 to the physician web browser 156 (step 378) (see FIG.6). If GETPATIENT.ACGI does not find an INDEX.HTML file in patientfolder 60, GETPATIENT.ACGI generates an INDEX.HTML file (step 374).

Host server 110 also responds to specific requests of web browser 156,such as performing a specific action including, for example, a requestto increase the size of an image on web page 58. One skilled in the artwill appreciate that host server 110 is configured with various securityfeatures. For example, a configuration file may control the access of aparticular physician to certain web pages. Furthermore, physician accessmay be limited to specific drives, directories and files and a physicianmay be restricted from inputting data into a web page. In other words,web page 58 is a read only web page. One of ordinary skill in the artwill also appreciate that host server 110 may restrict access to certainphysicians and other users based upon requested user ID numbers andpasswords.

While the present invention has been described in conjunction withpreferred and alternative embodiments set forth in the drawing Figuresand the specification, it will be appreciated that the invention is notso limited. Various modifications in the selection and arrangement ofcomponents, interfaces and process steps may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

I claim:
 1. A system for facilitating the transmission of data from afacility to a centralized host server for remote viewing from acomputer, said system comprising: a data acquisition device configuredto acquire data; an uploader device configured to receive said data fromsaid data acquisition device, said uploader device configured totransmit said data over a network; said centralized host server isconfigured to communicate with a plurality of said uploader devicesthrough said network and said centralized host server is configured toautomatically transmit to said facility a list of new passwords upon arequest by said uploader device; and said computer configured tocommunicate with said centralized host server, wherein said centralizedhost server is configured to construct and transmit to said computer aweb page.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said new passwordsis at least one of a temporary password and temporary-permanentpassword.
 3. A system for facilitating the transmission of data from afacility to a centralized host server for remote viewing from acomputer, said system comprising: a data acquisition device configuredto acquire data; an uploader device configured to receive said data fromsaid data acquisition device, said uploader device configured totransmit said data over a network; said centralized host serverconfigured to communicate with a plurality of said uploader devicesthrough said network; and said computer configured to communicate withsaid centralized host server, wherein said centralized host server isconfigured to construct and transmit to said computer a web page whereinsaid web page contains a list of available facilities and a list ofavailable images from each of said available facilities.
 4. A method forfacilitating the transmission of data from a facility via a centralizedhost server to a computer, said method comprising: receiving, at saidcentralized host server, one or more images transmitted from an uploaderdevice, wherein said receiving step further includes: receiving a datafile from said uploader device, wherein said data file includes at leastone of said one or more images, text input at said uploader device andthumbnail image representations of said one or more images created atsaid uploader device, wherein said text includes at least one of apatient identifier and a patient history, wherein said one or moreimages have been counted by said uploader device, and wherein said oneor more images have been compressed by said uploader device if the sizeof said one or more images is greater than a predetermined threshold;assembling a web page, including said one or more images, at saidcentralized host server in response to a request from said computer;and, transmitting said web page to said computer.
 5. A method forfacilitating the transmission of data from a facility via a centralizedhost server to a computer, said method comprising: receiving, at saidcentralized host server, one or more images transmitted from an uploaderdevice, assembling a web page, including said one or more images, atsaid centralized host server in response to a request from saidcomputer; and, transmitting said web page to said computer, wherein saidsteps of assembling a web page and transmitting said web page to saidcomputer further include: validating a user identification and a userpassword entered at said computer; accessing, at said centralized hostserver, one or more patient folders associated with said facility,wherein said one or more patient folders include said one or moreimages; populating, at said centralized host server, said web page withsaid one or more patient folders; transmitting said web page from saidcentralized host server to said personal computer; and transmitting atleast one of said one or more patient folders to said computer.
 6. Amethod for facilitating the transmission of data from a facility via acentralized host server to a computer, said method comprising:receiving, at said centralized host server, one or more imagestransmitted from an uploader device, assembling a web page, includingsaid one or more images, at said centralized host server in response toa request from said computer; transmitting said web page to saidcomputer; said method further comprising the steps of: a) requesting, atsaid uploader device, a temporary-permanent password for said facilityfor a user of said computer; b) distributing said temporary-permanentpassword to said user; c) requesting, at said computer, entry of saidtemporary-permanent password by said user; d) requesting entry, at saidcomputer, of a new password; e) replacing said temporary-permanentpassword with said new password; f) repeating steps (a)-(e) for adifferent medical facility.
 7. A system for facilitating thetransmission of data from a facility to a centralized host server forremote viewing from a computer, said system comprising: a dataacquisition device configured to acquire data; an uploader deviceconfigured to receive said data from said data acquisition device, saiduploader device configured to automatically transmit said data over anetwork, wherein said network is at least one of a public,packet-switched Internet and an Ethernet; said centralized host serveris configured to communicate with a plurality of said uploader devicesthrough said network and said centralized host server is configured toautomatically transmit to said facility a list of new passwords upon arequest by said uploader device; and said computer configured tocommunicate with said centralized host server.
 8. The system of claim 7wherein each of said passwords is at least one of a temporary passwordand temporary-permanent password.
 9. A system for facilitating thetransmission of data from a facility to a centralized host server forremote viewing from a computer, said system comprising: a dataacquisition device configured to acquire data; an uploader deviceconfigured to receive said data from said data acquisition device, saiduploader device configured to automatically transmit said data over anetwork, wherein said network is at least one of a public,packet-switched Internet and an Ethernet; said centralized host serveris configured to communicate with a plurality of said uploader devicesthrough said network and said centralized host server is configured toconstruct and transmit to said computer a web page containing a list ofavailable facilities and a list of available images from each of saidavailable facilities; and said computer configured to communicate withsaid centralized host server.
 10. A method for facilitating theaccessing of data from a facility via a centralized host server forremote viewing on a computer, said method comprising: establishing anetwork connection at said computer; entering a network address for saidcentralized host server at said computer; viewing a web page provided bysaid centralized host server; in response to a request from saidcentralized host server, entering a user identification and password atsaid computer; viewing a list of available facilities on said web pageat said computer, wherein said list of available facilities is displayedbased on said user identification and said user password; selecting saidfacility from said list of available facilities at said computer;viewing a list of images available from said facility; selecting one ormore images from said list of images at said computer; and viewing saidone or more images at said computer.